“We are absolutely fine with the decision. A Hoffenheim spokesman has been quoted as saying that: However, it has been reported that neither team will be appealing the decision. If Leipzig had been removed from the competition, the automatic group stage place in the UEFA Champions League would have gone to 1899 Hoffenheim, whose UEFA Champions League play-off round place would have gone to FC Koln. In the case of Salzburg and Leipzig, the club with the lower co-efficient would be Leipzig. Article 5 of the Regulations of the UEFA Champions League 2015 – 2018 Cycle states that, where two clubs that are commonly owned qualify for the same UEFA competition, the one with the lower UEFA co-efficient ranking will not be allowed to compete in the relevant competition. While a challenge by Leipzig and Salzburg would appear highly unlikely, there would appear to be more cause for complaint on the part of the other German clubs that will be affected by the decision. UEFA has confirmed that the decision of the CFCB may be appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport within 10 days. “Following a thorough investigation, and further to several important governance and structural changes made by the clubs (regarding corporate matters, financing, personnel, sponsorship arrangement, etc.), the CFCB deemed that no individual or legal entity had anymore a decisive influence over more than one club participating in a UEFA club competition.” It has now been reported that, following a month-long investigation by UEFA and changes made by both clubs, UEFA is satisfied that both clubs can compete in next year’s competition.Ī UEFA statement confirmed that the Adjudicatory Chamber of the UEFA Club Financial Control Body (the “ CFCB”) “has decided to accept the admission of both FC Salzburg and RB Leipzig to the UEFA Champions League 2017/2018, having found that Article 5 (Integrity of the competition) of the competition regulations is not breached.” Both clubs qualified from their respective leagues on merit but, given that both clubs are in one way or another funded by Red Bull, questions had arisen as to whether UEFA’s rule against common-ownership would mean that both clubs would be prevented from competing in the UEFA Champions League at the same time. On 8 June 2017, Sports Shorts considered the issue of whether RB Leipzig and FC Red Bull Salzburg would both be permitted to participate in the UEFA Champions League 2017/2018 season. By Squire Patton Boggs on JPosted in Champions League, Europa League, Football, Rules and regulations
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